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Retail Merchandising

As a retail merchandising major, you learn the business and creative processes behind the fashion industry.

Preparing You For Success

You begin to explore the industry your freshman year. Courses teach you about apparel analysis, product development, consumer behavior, merchandising, textiles and other industry topics. Learning continues outside class through internships, community-focused projects and campus organizations.

By the time you graduate, your experiences include:

  • A minor in marketing or management and leadership
  • Research opportunities with faculty
  • Professional internships across the globe
  • An optional study abroad semester in Europe
  • Networking and professional development in student organization Fashion Focus and honor society Kappa Omicron Nu

Making Your Mark

Retail merchandising graduates are in demand as designers, brand experts, business analysts and product buyers. Recent graduates are working for Nike's corporate headquarters, Disney resorts, Best Buy and Von Maur.

Sample Program Plan
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Major Requirements

Family and Consumer Sciences Core - 12-15 hrs.

  • FCS 100: Family Dynamics - 3 hrs.
  • FCS 220: Consumer Issues in Health Care - 3 hrs.
    or FCS 300: Consumer Issues in America - 3 hrs.
  • FCS 310 and 311: Community Program Planning and Evaluation - 6 hrs.
    or FCS 346: Resource Management - 3 hrs.
  • FCS 442: Foundations of FCS - 3 hrs.

Additional Required FCS Courses - 31 hrs.

  • FCS 131: The Fashion Industry - 3 hrs.
  • FCS 133: Apparel Production - 3 hrs.
  • FCS 233: Consumer Textiles - 3 hrs.
  • FCS 235: Apparel Product Development and Analysis - 3 hrs.
  • FCS 330: Fashion Merchandising - 3 hrs.
  • FCS 331: Merchandising Lab - 1 hr.
  • FCS 333: Advanced Textiles - 3 hrs.
  • FCS 334: Visual Merchandising and Promotions - 3 hrs.
  • FCS 336: History of Fashion - 3 hrs.
  • FCS 337: Clothing and Human Behavior - 3 hrs.
  • FCS 438: Global Issues of Textile and Apparel - 3 hrs.

Required Supporting Courses - 6 hrs.

  • ART 227: Basic Graphic Design - 3 hrs.
  • MTG 381: Integrated Marketing Communications - 3 hrs.
    or COM 220: Advertising as Communication - 3 hrs.

Required Minor (choose one) - 15 hrs.

Contact Information

Jackie Hogan

Associate Professor Carmen Keist

Retail Merchandising Program Director

    Bradley Hall 5
    (309) 838-2437 (cell)
   ckeist@bradley.edu